Hedley J explained the background to the 2006 Act, saying: ‘This multiplicity of lists and division of responsibilities was always likely to provide fertile soil for confusion and error as was pointed out in the Report in June 2004 of the Bichard Inquiry. As a result Parliament legislated again and there came on to the Statute book the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 the purpose of which was to harmonise and unify the various statutory lists. The Act legislates for an Independent Barring Board which will in fact be known in practice as the Independent Safeguarding Authority. The intention is that this authority will take all the discretionary barring decisions presently taken by the relevant Secretaries of State and that the various lists (civil and criminal) will be replaced with two lists: one relating to children and one to vulnerable adults. It will also widen the scope of the activities covered.’
Judges:
Hedley J
Citations:
[2008] EWCA Civ 1372, [2009] 1 FLR 881
Links:
Statutes:
Protection of Children Act 1999, Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Children
Updated: 21 July 2022; Ref: scu.278644